Yes it's a spec me a thread...

Beren · 7 Dec 2008 at 17:03

My CD player has gone kaput and it has made me think about running all of my music through the PC. I currently have a reasonable pair of monitor audio bi-wired floor standers being powered by a Sherwood amp...

What I would ideally like is a soundcard that will take phono interconnects straight to the stereo as well as a mic/headphone socket for gaming/skype etc.

I don't have any intention of getting surround sound unless it is in headphone format.

Budget is reasonably flexible would really like it to be ~£100 but can stretch to ~£200 for something really special.

I have looked at the Creative/ASUS offerings and they none appear to offer phono out... is it now considered normal to run decent hi-fi off of a 3.5mm jack?

Beren · 10 Dec 2008 at 13:51

*Sniff* - Sorry did I not say please? Any help would be very welcome... though it is now going to wait till I have flogged the Wii.

Mansize_tissue · 10 Dec 2008 at 21:18

I think an external DAC would be useful here. The Beresford DAC is generally very well regarded in this sort of budget (~£100), but if you step up to £200 then there's the Cambridge Audio DACMagic--the new one, that is--which will accept USB input as well as the usual optical flavours.

There are also a few DIY DACs which can be made pretty cheaply, but I really don't know much about this area so I'll wait for someone else to jump in!

Beren · 12 Dec 2008 at 16:14

Hmm that is going to really stretch my budget if I am getting a decent sound card as well - interesting to read about though so thanks for that.

Mansize_tissue · 12 Dec 2008 at 16:49

You won't need to buy an additional sound if you get a DAC, since they're doing the job for you. You just need to have a digital-out from your existing sound card (or a USB port if you opt for the DACMagic), the DAC with then convert the signal from digital to analogue and you're good to go.

Beren · 13 Dec 2008 at 12:34

I am currently just using on board sound as only use headphones for gaming/skype etc.

I thought I would need to get at least a reasonable quality soundcard... am I wrong?

Mansize_tissue · 13 Dec 2008 at 21:02

The fact that you'll be using a digital signal makes the quality of the sound card almost irrelevant, at least that was my thought. The external DAC will be doing all of the work, not the internal sound card in your computer.

Stag · 13 Dec 2008 at 22:12

^^ He speaks the truth. As long as your existing sound card is capable of transmitting a digital signal then it's just being used as an interface to get that digital information into the external DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter - I'm sure you knew that but just for clarification

).

Beren · 14 Dec 2008 at 17:49

Of course I knew that!....
Thanks

I have now comletely changed what I was planning to do. Because I am going to be running digital cable from the PC to the DAC it doesn't matter how long it is... so the speakers and amp can still stay over by the TV and doubling up as home theatre speakers. And since the freesat and DVD both have digital outs it will hopefully improve everything